Surakarta Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Aerial view landmark of surakarta, urban city of Surakarta in the morning. Selamet riyadi street : Surakarta Indonesia June 16 2020
Aerial view landmark of surakarta, urban city of Surakarta in the morning. Selamet riyadi street : Surakarta Indonesia June 16 2020
Aerial view of rows of indigo-dyed fabric drying under the sun, creating a vibrant gradient from deep blues to soft whites, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia.
Aerial view of vibrant textiles laid out in neat rows, creating a colorful patchwork against the earth, as workers tend to the drying fabrics, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia.
At the museum no photos are allowed which is really unfortunate as it was well worth the visit and the guided tour is definitely not to be missed. In the museum there are even Batik made from the Dutch era which depicts stories like Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White! I enjoyed the tour v much and at the end of the tour we were brought to this room where the artisan were working on hand drawn batik. Below is an excerpt from Wikipedia for anyone interested in learning more about the process of batik making. Firstly, a cloth is washed, soaked and beaten with a large mallet. Patterns are drawn with pencil and later redrawn using hot wax, usually made from a mixture of paraffin or bees wax, sometimes mixed with plant resins, which functions as a dye-resist. The wax can be applied with a variety of tools. A pen-like instrument called a canting (IPA: [tʃantiŋ], sometimes spelled with old Dutch orthography tjanting) is the most common. A canting is made from a small copper reservoir with a spout on a wooden handle. The reservoir holds the resist which flows through the spout, creating dots and lines as it moves. For larger patterns, a stiff brush may be used. Alternatively, a copper block stamp called a cap (IPA: [tʃap]; old spelling tjap) is used to cover large areas more efficiently. After the cloth is dry, the resist is removed by scraping or boiling the cloth. The areas treated with resist keep their original color; when the resist is removed the contrast between the dyed and undyed areas forms the pattern. This process is repeated as many times as the number of colors desired. The most traditional type of batik, called batik tulis (written batik), is drawn using only the canting. The cloth need to be drawn on both sides and dipped in a dye bath three to four times. The whole process may take up to a year; it yields considerably finer patterns than stamped batik. Source: Wikipedia

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Where to stay in Surakarta

At the museum no photos are allowed which is really unfortunate as it was well worth the visit and the guided tour is definitely not to be missed. In the museum there are even Batik made from the Dutch era which depicts stories like Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White! I enjoyed the tour v much and at the end of the tour we were brought to this room where the artisan were working on hand drawn batik. Below is an excerpt from Wikipedia for anyone interested in learning more about the process of batik making. Firstly, a cloth is washed, soaked and beaten with a large mallet. Patterns are drawn with pencil and later redrawn using hot wax, usually made from a mixture of paraffin or bees wax, sometimes mixed with plant resins, which functions as a dye-resist. The wax can be applied with a variety of tools. A pen-like instrument called a canting (IPA: [tʃantiŋ], sometimes spelled with old Dutch orthography tjanting) is the most common. A canting is made from a small copper reservoir with a spout on a wooden handle. The reservoir holds the resist which flows through the spout, creating dots and lines as it moves. For larger patterns, a stiff brush may be used. Alternatively, a copper block stamp called a cap (IPA: [tʃap]; old spelling tjap) is used to cover large areas more efficiently. After the cloth is dry, the resist is removed by scraping or boiling the cloth. The areas treated with resist keep their original color; when the resist is removed the contrast between the dyed and undyed areas forms the pattern. This process is repeated as many times as the number of colors desired. The most traditional type of batik, called batik tulis

Solo City Centre

You'll enjoy the museums and zoo in Solo City Centre. You might want to make time for a stop at Solo Paragon Lifestyle Mall or Keprabon Park.

Solo City Centre
At the museum no photos are allowed which is really unfortunate as it was well worth the visit and the guided tour is definitely not to be missed. In the museum there are even Batik made from the Dutch era which depicts stories like Little Red Riding Hood and Snow White! I enjoyed the tour v much and at the end of the tour we were brought to this room where the artisan were working on hand drawn batik. Below is an excerpt from Wikipedia for anyone interested in learning more about the process of batik making. Firstly, a cloth is washed, soaked and beaten with a large mallet. Patterns are drawn with pencil and later redrawn using hot wax, usually made from a mixture of paraffin or bees wax, sometimes mixed with plant resins, which functions as a dye-resist. The wax can be applied with a variety of tools. A pen-like instrument called a canting (IPA: [tʃantiŋ], sometimes spelled with old Dutch orthography tjanting) is the most common. A canting is made from a small copper reservoir with a spout on a wooden handle. The reservoir holds the resist which flows through the spout, creating dots and lines as it moves. For larger patterns, a stiff brush may be used. Alternatively, a copper block stamp called a cap (IPA: [tʃap]; old spelling tjap) is used to cover large areas more efficiently. After the cloth is dry, the resist is removed by scraping or boiling the cloth. The areas treated with resist keep their original color; when the resist is removed the contrast between the dyed and undyed areas forms the pattern. This process is repeated as many times as the number of colors desired. The most traditional type of batik, called batik tulis

Banjarsari

4/5(2 area reviews)

If you're spending some time in Banjarsari, Solo Paragon Lifestyle Mall and Balekambang City Park are top sights worth seeing.

Banjarsari
Alila Solo, Java

Alila Solo, Java

5 out of 5
Jl. Slamet Riyadi No. 562 Surakarta Central Java
The price is AU$118 per night from 1 Apr to 2 Apr
AU$118
1 Apr - 2 Apr
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury hotel in Surakarta. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Solo Square and UMS are located nearby.
9.2/10 Wonderful! (137 reviews)
By far the most beautiful hotel I've ever stayed in. Everything is thoughtfully arranged, spotlessly clean and athletically pleasing. The service is also excellent in every way.

Reviewed on 27 Dec 2025

Alila Solo, Java
The Royal Surakarta Heritage - Handwritten Collection

The Royal Surakarta Heritage - Handwritten Collection

5 out of 5
Jalan Slamet Riyadi No. 06 Surakarta Central Java
The price is AU$52 per night from 7 Mar to 8 Mar
AU$52
7 Mar - 8 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury hotel in Surakarta. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a full-service spa. Popular attractions Mesjid Agung and Gede Market are located ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (168 reviews)
Okay

Reviewed on 18 Feb 2026

The Royal Surakarta Heritage - Handwritten Collection
Novotel Solo

Novotel Solo

4 out of 5
Jalan Slamet Riyadi 272 Surakarta Central Java
The price is AU$52 per night from 24 Mar to 25 Mar
AU$52
24 Mar - 25 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa hotel in Surakarta. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and 2 outdoor pools. Popular attractions Danar Hadi and Radya Pustaka Museum are located ...
Novotel Solo
See all 317 properties in Surakarta
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
ZG Home Solo

ZG Home Solo

2 out of 5
No.8-4 Jl. Pajajaran I Surakarta Jawa Tengah
Stay at this villa in Surakarta. Enjoy free Wi-Fi. Popular attractions Balekambang City Park and Solo Paragon Lifestyle Mall are located nearby.
ZG Home Solo
ZG Homestay Solo

ZG Homestay Solo

3 out of 5
1 Jl. Pajajaran Surakarta Jawa Tengah
Stay at this villa in Surakarta. Enjoy daily housekeeping, a garden and bike hire on-site. Popular attractions Balekambang City Park and Solo Square are located ...
ZG Homestay Solo
Spacious 3-BR Family Guest House in Central Solo with Kitchen & Laundry

Spacious 3-BR Family Guest House in Central Solo with Kitchen & Laundry

Surakarta Central Java
Stay at this holiday home in Surakarta. Enjoy laundry facilities and air conditioning. Popular attractions Solo Square and Balekambang City Park are located ...
Spacious 3-BR Family Guest House in Central Solo with Kitchen & Laundry
See all properties in Surakarta
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Universitas Sebelas Maret

Explore the campus of Universitas Sebelas Maret during your trip to Surakarta. Take in the musical theatre in this culturally rich area.

Universitas Sebelas Maret

UMS

Learn about the local history of Kartosuro when you spend time at UMS.

UMS

Solo Paragon Lifestyle Mall

4/5(2 reviews)

During your trip to Surakarta, you can enjoy retail therapy at Solo Paragon Lifestyle Mall. Experience the museums and musical theatre in this culturally rich area.

Solo Paragon Lifestyle Mall

Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta

Explore the campus of Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta during your visit to Kartosuro.

Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta

Klewer Market

During your trip to Surakarta, you can do some window-shopping at Klewer Market. Experience the museums and musical theatre in this culturally rich area.

Klewer Market

Mangkunegaran Palace

Mangkunegaran Palace is just one of the places to see in Surakarta, so why not enjoy the other things to explore during your travels? Experience the museums and musical theatre in this culturally rich area.

Mangkunegaran Palace

Activities

Solo Vintage Tour with Sukuh and Cetho Temple from Yogyakarta

Solo Vintage Tour with Sukuh and Cetho Temple from Yogyakarta

AU$181
per adult
Solo Vintage Tour with Sukuh and Cetho Temple from Yogyakarta
Solo Palace Tour with Sukuh and Ceto Temple from Yogyakarta

Solo Palace Tour with Sukuh and Ceto Temple from Yogyakarta

AU$156
per adult
Solo Palace Tour with Sukuh and Ceto Temple from Yogyakarta
Surakarta Village cycling tour

Surakarta Village cycling tour

AU$85
per adult
Surakarta Village cycling tour
See all activities in Surakarta

Other places like Surakarta

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